Democracy, a form of government in which all eligible citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Democracy in west is what makes Britain and other countries appealing to those living in countries without it, meaning it is important to uphold the laws of democracy so that a potentially fragile system does not crumble under social pressures and movements. Some argue that direct action is a right, coinciding with freedom within democracy, and feel it is the only way in this day and age they are able to get their point across. When HACAN’s chairman, John Stewart, defended the actions of members of his group engaging in direct action, he said “I think our members feel they have done everything they can through the conventional campaigning process." “This new approach has been made possible”, he argues, by the Countryside Alliance, which has made "direct action fairly acceptable to people who would consider themselves law-abiding". Like the extract highlights many pressure groups use ‘high profile, mass protests and stunts as a way of getting their message across’ this is because they feel it is the most effective way. However on the other hand there are arguments that suggest direct action undermines democracy in the UK; it argues the civil disobedience creates an unstable, heavily socially manipulated government

From a legal point of view, many sides of direct action are illegal, Examples of violent illegal direct action include: destruction of property, rioting, terrorism, political assassination, graffiti etc. It is these forms of direct action that leads members of the public to believe that direct action could be breaking down democracy. If, as a nation, the public do not abide by the legislation of the government then the system could be seen as weak and irrelevant. Lord Soley, Chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party. In office 1 May 1997 – 11 July 2001 argues "They don't know if they are a majority. They may actually be a...

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